Contributed Photo / NBA
The NBA season is back for a new season and it started just like it ended last year. A double-header on opening night featured the Denver Nuggets versus the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors hosting the Pheonix Suns.
The Nuggets received their championship rings in Denver, just before defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 119-107. The Suns also came out on top of the Warriors at 108-104, without their new star Bradley Beal.
The Denver Nuggets came out blazing, with each of their five starters scoring double-digit points. The returning finals MVP Nikola Jokic led the pack with his 106th triple-double of his career at 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
Jokic received huge support from Jamal Murray, who always seemed to be whenever he was needed. Murray ended the night with a 21-point, 2-assist and 6-rebound performance, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope trailing behind him at 20 points and three steals.
The Suns came out victorious at Chase Centre against the Warriors, with Devin Booker’s leading performance of a 32-point, 6-rebound, 8-assist debut. Kevin Durant was also healthy and dominant throughout this game with eighteen points and ten rebounds.
Chris Paul made his debut as a Golden State Warrior with a 13-point, 8-rebound and 4-assist performance. This resulted in Paul coming off the bench for the first time in his 19-year career, against the Houston Rockets.
Despite the winning debut for the Suns, the Lakers came back to Los Angeles and defeated the Pheonix Suns 100-95.
Lebron James was able to win the first match-up he had with Kevin Durant in five years. Despite the loss, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 30 points by the 3rd quarter without star players Booker and Beal.
Durant ended the night with 39 points and 11 rebounds, while James left victorious with a 29-point, 9-assist, and 8-rebound performance. Anthony Davies was right behind him with his season debut of 30 points and 13 assists. The Lakers’ pair ended the night with a combined five blocks and five steals.
Even in the face of a loss, Kevin Durant moved up to number twelve on the NBA All-Time Scoring List after facing the Lakers.
The highly anticipated debut from Damian Lillard as a Milwaukee Buck, resulted in a tight 118-117 victory. Damian Lillard broke the franchise record for most points scored in a debut with a 39-point performance, while scoring 14 out of the team’s 16 points in the last quarter.
Here in the north, Dennis Schröder was able to fit right into his new team dynamic with the Raptors as him and OG Anunoby led the team to a 97-94 victory against the Minesota Timberwolves.
Schröder came out with a 22-point, 7-assist, and 3-rebound debut performance as a Raptor, while Anunoby was right behind him with 20 points and six rebounds.
Despite the loss, Anthony Edwards’ remained dominant on both sides of the court for the Timberwolves with 26 points and 14 rebounds.
Coming down from the season debut victory, the Raptors saw themselves in a 114-107 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Scottie Barnes remained persistent throughout the entire game with 24 points, five assists and eight rebounds. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with both players scoring 34 points and combined for 15 assists and 15 rebounds. The team was without star player James Harden.
The NBA continues its season with highly anticipated games from the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and of course, Toronto Raptors.
